Ice walker



G. E. SLOAN ICE WALKER Filed Feb. 11, 1938 Patented July .16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an ice walker,thisbeing a device adapted to be attached to a shoe or boot to prevent slipping when walking on ice.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved anti-slipping device in the form of an attachment adapted to be quickly applied and removed at the pleasure of the wearer.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described characterized by the provision of a body member preferably formed from a strip of sheet steel having spurs or spikes punched through a central portion and having the ends turned up for the attachment I of a band which is adapted to encircle the arch of the shoe or boot for holding the body in working position, the spurs being arranged in a particularly advantageous manner to serve the desired purpose.

working position and permitting quick and easyapplication and removal of the device.

Another object is to provide an anti-slipping device in which the metallic body member having the spurs or spikes is held in position by a band including largely fiat hooks which serve to connect a flexible or elastic part of the band to the body member.

A further object is to provide an anti-slipping device of improved construction which will permit of manufacture at a comparatively low cost and which is particularly advantageous in providing for different sizes, such as large, small, and medium, to accommodate shoes or boots of different sizes.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an anti-slipping device embodying my invention, showing its application to a shoe;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device on an enlarged scale;

sole of a shoe or boot, as shown in Figure 1, and of a length sufficient to span the width of the sole and having upturned ends I which conform generally to the sides of the shoe and prevent lateral displacement of the body. These up- 5'- turned ends also serve as a means for attach-' ment to a band which serves to hold the body in the working position. A' series of spurs or spikes 8, preferably of V-shape, are punched downwardly from the body 6 so that the wide 1'0 base of each spur is integral with the body and is arranged in a plane extending lengthwise of the body. These spurs may be arranged in a single row lengthwise of the body as shown in Fig. 3, or in plural rows. arrangement shown are economical to produce and the arrangement is desirable because it gives an effective row of contacts with the ice centrally disposed with respect to the broad base of the body member. This arrangement also makes for easy walking and does not set up forces tending to unnecessarily work or displace the body member from its position on the shoe. These spurs punched from the steel body possess ample strength and they have sufficient bodyxfor giving long life and usefulness.

My invention provides preferably an elastic band 9 for holding the spur body member in position on a shoe, together with the use of suitable means for attaching the ends of the elastic band to the upturned ends 1 of the spur body. The use of a comparatively heavy elastic band permits of quick and easy application of the antislipping device or ice walker as I term it, and greatly facilitates the use of devices of this kind. 5 It should be understood, however, that in the broader aspect of my invention this part of the band may be of any suitable flexible material.

Another feature of my invention in its preferred form is the provision of hooks formed from 40 flat metal sheets designated generally by ID which serve to connect the band 9 to the ends I of the spur body. Each hook is in the form of a sheet metal strip having its lower end I l bent into hooked form and looped through an elongated slot or opening H in one of the upturned ends I, the slot extending crosswise of the length of the body strip so that the hook strip will have a flat seat from side to side against the slot edge of the spur body. The upper end l3 of each hook or connector strip is bent downwardly, as shown in Fig. 9, and clamped against the interposed end I4 of the elastic band 9. The upper portion of each member [0 is further provided in the preferred form with side portions or tabs l5, which Spurs of the shape and 15 are folded over against the main body of the fabric band and clamped against the same, the folded portions being pressed tightly together so as to efiect a very secure connection between the elastic band 9 and the'metal strip Ill. The hooked ends H may be pressed to form a closed connection as shown in the left hand connection, Fig. 2,,so that the band is permanently but flexibly connected to the spur body. With this construction. the device. may be easily slipped over. the toe oi? the shoe or boot andpushed back into an operative position substantially as shown in Fig. 1, the elastic band serving to hold the spur body tightly against the arch of the sole and thus maintain the spur body in the operative position. If desired, one of the hooked ends ll may be left open as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 2, thus allowing for connecting, and disconnecting this end of the band to the spur body when the latter is in the operative position or in the. courseof being: so positioned. The metal strips Illpresent. comparatively broad flat suriaces atv the: inner side of the bandwhich serve to take. the chafing and wear incidental tobinding against: the. sidesof the shoe and thereby prolong the, lifeofr the: device. I'his is particularly advantageous in. that the elastic fabric is protected from excessive wear.

It shouldbe observed that the metal parts are formed from: sheet metal entirely by. punching and forming. operations: and that no machining is. required. The construction is also desirable because the spur body may be used for wide, medium, and narrow sizes according to the spacingof the: bends; it, the particular embodiment shown being intended for the medium size. view oi thesimplicity of construction. and the absence" of extraneous: fastening of connecting devices. the: cost of manufacturing anti-slipping devices according? tov my invention is comparativelyclow;

My improved antiesli-pping device is particularly: well? adapted for use inwalkingon ice and icy: surfaces?- Whileit; is intended for general use: under these'conditions, itis particularly well suited for outdoor sports use in the winter and also for uses of a commercial nature as, for example, by mailmen, policemen, electric linemen and those working out-of-doors where ice is encountered.

It will be understood that changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims, in which I claim;

1.. A wear plate for an anti-slipping device of the type described comprising a U-shaped sheet metal member having its end sections turned up at such junctures as to adapt said member to fit .on the general shank section of the shoe and adapted to receive fastening means, and downwardly disposed spurs punched from the body of the said member and having their base portions integralv therewith arranged in a single series centrally along the length of the web of said U-shaped: member.

2.. An anti-slip device for attachment transversely to the shankportion of a shoe on a human foot next to the ball portion, comprising an elongated platehaving; upwardly projecting end portions adapted toengage the edge portions of the sole of the shoe. sol as. to, hold. the plate against lateral displacement when applied to the shoe, said upwardly projecting end portions being adapted: for connection with means for attaching the device tothe. shoe, and anti-slip means on said.- plate comprising downwardly projecting prongs: all disposed. in one plane parallel to the front edgeof the heel of the shoe and spaced' forvvardle, therefrom! so astobe nearer the ball portion. of the foot, the prongs all terminating in a horizontal. plane below the plane of the bottom of the heel and sole of the shoe, the prongs c01- lectively being strong. enoughtopermit the wearer toteeter-thereonwithout bending the same, and the same projecting below the plane of the shoe bottom only suificiently for anti-slip. purposes and so as not, towinterfere noticeably with normal walking.

GEORGE E. SLOAN. 

